Drier apparatus for paper-making machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Russe/ Carpe/#EIT R CARPENTER Filed Nov.

DRYER APPARATUS FOR PAPER MAKTNG MACHNES April 29, 1930. R. CARPENTER DRIER APPARATUS FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Nov I5 192'7 ZSheets-Shee'c 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1930v UNITED STATES RUSSELL CARPENTER, OF THREE RIVERS, QUEBEC, CANADA DRIER APPARATUS FOR PAPER-MAKING IVIIACI-Il'lYI'ES,

Application filed November 3, 1927.

This invention relates primarily to drier apparatus of paper making machines of the high speed type, which apparatus consists of a series of steam heated cylindrical drier rolls around which the paper successively travels for drying purposes during the manufacturing operation. These rolls are located in staggered arrangement relatively to one another and rotate on horizontal axes, and their peripheries, adjacent their front ends, are usually circumferentially grooved to accommodate a pair of 'endless ropes which are looped around the rolls successively throughout the series and travel in unison therewith.

The ropes merely serve to effect the initial feed of the paper through the drier series and having performed this function they continue to travel at the same high speed in unison with Vthe driers without taking any further part in the drying operation until it again becomes necessary to start the feed of another length of paper. It is obvious, therefore, that the major part of the travel of the ropes serves no useful purpose and on the other hand materially shortens their life and greatly increases the danger of displacement with resultant breakage.

The conditions under which these ropes operate are unusually severe, and manufacturers have been suffering heavy losses owing to breakages, some of which result in two or three hours loss in the machine output.

Various attempts have been made in the past to prevent these breakages, but in most of these instances it was sought to prevent breakages which resulted from displacement of the ropes from the driers and no attempt was made lto obtain relief from the conditions which were primarily responsible for these losses.

The present invention approaches the problemfrm a different angle by seeking to remove the ropes from the excessive heat of the driers and to relieve them from the necessity of continuing travel after they have performed their paper feeding function. It is believed that in accomplishing these desiderata a solution of thel problem will be provided. In any event, the percentage of breakdowns will be rmaterially reduced.

Serial No. 230,793. v

Tothis end my invention consists of the combination, construction and particular arrangement of the parts hereinafter described and illustrated and pointed out in the claims.

For the full comprehension of my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate like parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of the drier apparatus of a paper making machine showing the application of my invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure l drawn to a larger scale and showing the application of the invention to one of the drier rolls.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 Figure 2. y

The drawings illustrate the-preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be distinctly understood that various changes may be made with-out departing from the scope of the invention as will be seen as the description progresses.

Referring to the construction illustrated, the main frame of the machine is indicated at 2, the drier rolls at 3, and the axes upon which such rolls rotate at 4:.

My improved means for effecting the initial feed of the paper successively around the5 rolls is distinct from the rolls and is located at the front of the machine. This means consists of a series of circumferentially grooved sheaves 5 located in axial alignment with the respective drier rolls and in close proximity to the front ends thereof, t.

means'for rotatively supporting the sheaves, means vfor rotating the sheaves and a pair of endless ropes 6 successively looped over the sheaves.

Each sheave is of annular form and is provided with an internal continuous flange 51 Vconstituting a running rail which is supported upon an annular series of anti-friction rolls 7 having grooved peripheries, the rolls being rotatively mounted upon studs 8 and held against aXial movement relatively thereto by collars 9 and l0. The studs extend through and are supported .by an annular frame l2 which in turn is carried by brackets l''secured to the main frame and such studs with their rollers are adapted t-o be. moved axially in unison with the sheave which they 'support for the purpose of moving the sheave into and out of rotative engagement with the ladjacent Aend of the vdrier roll as will be f presently shown. From the foregoing it will the sheaves without departing from the scopel of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, however, I have preferred to rotate each sheave from its respective drier.

YTo this end each sheave is constructed of a diameter equal to that of its respective drier roll and is located in close proximity to the end thereof and means is provided for movingeit Yaxially into frictional engagement with the drier roll to cause it tov rotate in unison therewith, a friction band 14: of any suitable material being secured upon the contacting face of the sheave or roll or both to effect the desiredfrictional grip. It is obvious that all of the sheaves should be set in ,motionV simultaneously and consequently should .be moved simultaneously into engagement with their respective driers. This result mayV bel accomplished by other welllrnown mechanisms, without departing from the scope ofthe invention, such as cam or toggle mechanisms, and it is to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the means illustrated. I prefer, however, to use a pressure medium such as air 'utilized in a manner to operate a plurality of plunger units which move the sheaves into contact with the drier rolls and retain them in position until thelatterfhave performed their paper feeding function. y

In'the illustrated embodiment the main air line is indicated at 15 and the air is distributed from this line lto a series of annular Vheaders 16 through branch lines 17 the headsheave engaging endsV of which terminate in anti-friction rolls 2O which are adapted to bear. against thel flat external face 21 of the sheave, such face being formed in any suitable manner to accommodate the rollers. The

admission and control of the air orpressuremoving the sheaves out of Contact with theirv driers. In the present embodiment the studs S are secured upon the plunger rods and move axially in unison therewith and springs 23 are. located within the cylinders in position encircling the plunger rods and bearing between the plunger proper and the end of the cylinder. rIhese springs are adapted to assert themselves when the air is exhausted from the cylinders and move the plungers, studs, rollers and-sheaves inunison away fromthe drier rolls.

O peratz'on In the operation of Vdrier apparatus constructed according toiny invention wheny it is desired to start the feed of a length of paper through the apparatus, air isfadmitted to the respeciive headers and the sheaves arethereby simultaneously moved vaxially into contact with their respectivedriers. The driers, being in motion, cause the sheaves to' rotate in unison'with them so that the `peripheral spee'drof both sheaves and driers is the same. 'if he end of the paper is Vthen placed in what is known-.as the nip of theropes and is caused to travel successively around vthe driers of the entire series. Vhen thistravel is completed and the paper has automatically 'left the ropes and assumed its vcorrect alignvment on the driers, l the airline is exhausted and-the sheaves released from their frictional Contact with the driers and allowed'to come to rest, the driers continuing to rotate at high (a) The danger of displacement is largely 'Y overcome and wear and-tear is reduced to a minimum. y Y Y (b) The ropes'may be repaired or changed while the drier rolls are in operation thereby eliminating the stoppages` with consequent production losses that have been unavoidable in the past. f'

(c) rIhe ropes being removed from the driers are relieved of the excessive heat and consequent severe expansion and contraction to which they were formerly subjected.` -v

(CZ) The immediate removal of accumulated paper from the drier rolls, when breakages of the paper occur, may be eected without necessitating the stoppage of the driers.

In the past it has been necessary in such instances to stop the driers in apparat-us not equipped with means to kpreventdisplacement of the ropes during the paper removing operation.

t is to be distinctly understood that mechanisms distinct from the drier rolls may be employed for rotating the sheaves or that the drive for the sheaves may be effected from the drier rolls through a clutch mechanism other than that herein described in detail without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Means may also be provided for automatically stopping the sheaves in the event of the ropes breaking should this be found desirable. For instance the well-known tension device which places the ropes under constant tension may be connected to the valve or valves controlling the air line by any suitable electric means whereby the air line is exhausted when a break takes place.

Wha-t I claim is as follows:

l. In a paper making machine, the combination with a series of drier rolls, of a series of rotary carriers located in close proximity to said rolls and in axial alignment therewith, each of said carriers being rotatively free relatively to its respective roll and being movable axially to and from rotative engagement therewith whereby the carrier may at times be driven directly by its roll at the same peripheral speed, each of said carriers consisting of an annular sheave having a grooved periphery coinciding with the periphery of its respective roll, means for rotatively supporting each sheave independently of the axis of its respective roll, said lastmentioned means consisting of a fixed member and an annular series'of anti-friction rollers mounted thereon and rotatively supporting the sheave, and means for axially moving each sheave into rotative engagement with its respective roll, substantially as described.

2. In a paper making machine, the combination with a. series of drier rolls, of a series of rotary carriers located in close proximity to said rolls and in axial alignment therewith, said carriers being' 'movable axially to and from rotative engagement wit-h their respective rolls whereby each carrier may be driven directly by its respective roll, a pressure iiuid system for simultaneously moving axially all of said carriers into rotative engagement with said rolls, said system consisting of a series of 1plunger units for axially moving each carrier into rotative engagement with its respective roll, a header communicating with each of said series of units, a pressure fluid supply line communicating with said headers, and valvular means controlling the same, substantially as described.

3. In paper web drying apparatus, the combination with the drier rolls, of an annular sheave in axial alinement with each roll, internal rollers rotatively supporting each sheave, web-feeding ropes carried by said sheaves, means normally maintaining the sheaves out of contact with the rolls, and pneumatic means to force all the sheaves simultaneously into contact with the ends of the rolls, whereby said ropes need only be driven at the time a new web is to be threaded through the roll series.

l. Paper web drying apparatus, comprising the combination with a plurality of dry- Y ing rolls arranged in staggered relation and means to drive the same, of means for feeding a web through and around said rolls, consisting of a plurality of rings with grooved peripheries, a circular series of rollers to rotatively support each ring in axial alinement with one of the rolls, the rings being capable of axial displacement and provided with friction material on their inner faces, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders and plungers for each ring, a common air supply for all the cylinders, an anti-friction roller carried by each plunger so as to bear against the outer face of the adjacent ring, springs to retract said plungers and rings, and web-feeding ropes running around the rings.

Signed at the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, this 14th day of October, 1927.

RUSSELL CARPENTER. 

